I Thought You Were Different: Part 5

Directive

                   

"Dad, this is ridiculous, of course it's me," Anthony argued vehemently, pointing at the dog.  "I think I'd know better than he would."

Vision stood up quickly to take a position next to the boy, cutting the discussion off immediately and urgently, "perhaps it would be best if we could take the children elsewhere to discuss this?  (Y/N), if you could contact Stephen?"

"I'm already on it," Tony interrupted, his phone tightly to his ear.  He was pacing the length of the living room, chewing his nails in an attempt to keep his mind from travelling to the dark corners that it loved to find, his promise to stand between his family and any threat replaying over and over within it.  "Strange," he answered as the line opened, "it's Stark.  We need you out here now."

"Ant, I know it's you," Steve answered his son, "I absolutely know that.  But what I don't know is what's been happening to you guys over these past weeks, and we just want to figure it out.  I think Vision has the right idea, so let's get you three up to the conference room."  He took a step towards Anthony, but just as before, Dodger began to growl and stepped in front of Steve protectively.  "Dodge, it's okay.  Allie, how about if you take him outside?"

"Sure, Uncle Steve," she agreed quickly, taking the dog's collar in hand.  "Let's go, boy.  I'll explain it to you as best as I can."

"I'm just gonna tag along," Clint added, taking a protective stance behind his daughter as they left the room together.  It didn't escape anyone's attention when he took her arm and pulled her to take a wider path from the room that took her as far from Anthony's reach as possible.

"Children, if you would join me, please," Vision insisted again, his hand out to lead the kids away as you waited with Steve and Tony to hear what Stephen had said.  Anthony and Grant took the lead, while Brooklyn held steady at Vision's side as they walked towards the elevator.  Wanda was close behind, but before she could reach the door, Scott stood and hurried to catch up to her, taking her arm in hand to stop her.  She was about to ask him to release her when she turned and saw the urgency in his eyes, and she couldn't let it wait.  "Go on," she told Vision, "I'll join you in a moment."

"Very well," he nodded just as the doors closed.

"What is it, Scott?  I need to get upstairs."

"Well...I've been thinking...I mean, I've wondered..." he stammered, shaking his head in frustration.  Wanda reached out and rested her hand on his arm gently, looking at him to watch for the change in his demeanor, releasing him when she could feel his muscles relax beneath her touch.  "Thanks," he smiled, "that's better.  I don't know why I'm feeling so nervous.  It's not being around you, don't worry.  I don't want you to think that you're the reason why I'm acting all weird-"

"Scott," she interrupted, "please focus.  I must go."

"Right, sorry again.  Anyway, I've been thinking that maybe we should wait until all of this blows over.  I feel like this is only going to get worse before it gets better, and I don't want to worry about you."

"You worry about me?" she asked quietly.  "Scott, there really is no need for you to worry.  I can take care of myself."

Scott knew full well that Wanda was beyond capable of taking care of herself; she could take care of herself and everyone else on the team around her and make it look like it was barely a bother to do so.  But it was more than just worrying about her now; there would be another life there that would rely on her for everything.  To put herself in any situation that could be dangerous would be irresponsible, and even though he had no claim to her in any way, he felt like it was his place to remind her of that.  "Wanda, it won't be just you once we do this."